Illustrated History of BSA Training and Service Awards



Training Award Varieties

George Crowl

Changes from Version 11.0 are annotated in blue.

| |The Boy Scouts of America began to recognize adult leaders who completed specified training and service in 1927|

|[pic] [pic] |with the introduction of the Scoutmaster’s Key, which recognized Scoutmasters who completed a five-year plan of|

|Scoutmaster’s/Scouter’s |training and service.1 In 1932 the Scouter’s Training Award recognized those Scouters other than Scoutmasters |

|Key Key |who completed the five-year plan.2 The Skipper’s Key was approved in December 1939 and phased out in 1948 (but|

| |reinstated in 2002).3 |

| | |

| |In 1948 the Scouter’s Key replaced the Scoutmaster’s Key. The only design change was from a First Class to a |

| |universal emblem device on the Key. It could be earned by Cubmasters, Scoutmasters, Senior Scout Advisors and |

| |Commissioners. The Five-Year Training Plan was changed to the Three-Year Training Plan. At the same time, the|

| |Scouter’s Training Award was renamed the Scouter’s Award, and the design changed from a V to an A background. |

| |This was needed since the V stood for the Five-Year Training Plan.4 Since the Scouter’s Award was changed back|

| |to Scouter’s Training Award in 1954, I will call it the STA throughout.5 |

| | |

| |Prior to 1956, Den Mothers earned the Scouter’s Training Award. In May 1956 the Den Mother’s Training Award |

| |was established. In 1967 women were allowed to serve as Cub Scout committee members, and men were allowed to |

| |serve as den leaders (a new term). Accordingly, the Den Leader’s Training Award was established, though men |

| |could not earn it until September 1969 due to the tenure requirements. Similarly, that year the new position |

|[pic][pic] |of Den Leader Coach was established, and the Den Leader Coach’s Training Award was established, but could not |

|Scouter’s Scouter’s |be earned until September 1969 (Scouting, Feb. 1969). These were both replaced by the Den Leader Award and Den|

|Training Training |Leader Coach’s Award in 1988. In 2012 the DLTA was reinstated for all den leaders. |

|Award Award | |

|1932-48 1948-55 |Illustrated below are the basic forms of the awards: |

| |[pic] [pic] [pic] |

| |Scouter’s Training Den Leader’s Den Leader’s Training |

| |Award 1956-Present Training Awd 1956-88 Award 2012-Present |

| |[pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] |

| |Den Leader Skipper’s Key Skipper’s Key Skipper’s Key |

| |Coach’s Award 1939-41+ ?-1948 2002-Present |

| |1956-88 |

|[pic][pic] |First on the left is what may be the initial issue of the Scoutmaster’s Key, or a ribbon prototype, or may be a|

|1928 Scoutmaster’s Key? |later unofficial replacement ribbon. “The owner of this key medal said he got it from an old Scouter who was |

|[pic][pic] |awarded this way back in the late 20's.” The ribbon is like the later Skipper’s Key ribbon (see above). It |

|Regular Scoutmaster’s Key |appears to be the right proportion, and most ribbons are wider. The ribbon is sewn across the back, as the BSA|

| |ribbon bars were beginning in 1934. The medal has the 10K in the middle of the back as one of mine is. |

| |However, that medal has an unmarked key, and this has what appears to be “10K” on the key itself. The loop on |

| |mine is not openable, and this appears to be the same. I cannot guarantee this is authentic, but I believe it |

| |is very likely. |

| | |

| |I know of the following six varieties of the Scoutmaster’s Key awarded from 1928-48 (excluding the one above). |

| |It is distinguished by a First Class badge superimposed on the key device. No devices (which see) were worn |

| |with it. It came in several varieties: |

| |A medal without ribbon, with 10K horizontally on the back of the First Class. |

| |No bar support, spin wheel locking clasp, 10K on the First Class and key tail. |

| |No bar support with a spin wheel locking clasp, 10K on the key tail. |

| |STER Pat 2066969 on gold color bar support, spin wheel locking clasp, 10K on the key tail. NOTE: Patent |

| |2066969 was granted January 5, 1937, so all bar supports with that number post-date 1937. |

| |Pat 2066969 on gold color bar support upside down, spin wheel locking clasp, 10K on the key tail. |

| |Pat 2066969 on gold color bar support right side up, spin wheel locking clasp, 10K on the key tail. |

| |Pat 2066969 on silver color bar support, spin wheel locking clasp, 10K on lower right bar of Key. |

|[pic][pic] |I know of three-four varieties of the Scouter’s Training Award from 1932-48. It is distinguished by the V |

|Pre-1937 Back Scouter’s Without Patent |device (representing the Five-Year Training Plan) with a fleur-de-lis (FDL) superimposed. I have two |

|Training Number Award |varieties: |

| |Rough olive or dark green ribbon with no hallmark on the medal, no nipples under the pins. Some varieties have|

| |STERLING on the V. |

| |Smooth solid green ribbon with 1/20 10K GF on the V, nipples under pins. |

| |NOTE: Any V Training Awards with PAT 2066969 on the bar support post-date January 5, 1937, the date the patent|

| |was awarded. |

| |There are six Cub Scouter awards, neck ribbons supporting a Cub universal insignia. Five were instituted in |

| |1988, the Tiger Cub Award was instituted in 1992. I illustrate and identify them below, but have made no study|

| |of them. The neck ribbon medals were not reordered by National Supply in 2000. The awards (square knots) were|

| |retained through 2012/3. In 2001 the position of Den Leader Coach was done away with, so the award also |

| |lapsed. |

| |[pic][pic][pic] |

| |Cubmaster Award Den Leader Award Webelos Leader Award |

| |[pic][pic][pic] |

| |Den Leader Coach Cub Scouter Award Tiger Cub Award |

| | |

| |The Pack Trainer Award was announced in 2006, and could be earned beginning on September 1, 2008. The only |

| |recognition was a square knot. In 2012 the Cubmaster Award was deleted effective December 31, 2013, returning |

| |to the Scouter’s Key. The Den Leader Award, Webelos Den Leader Award and Tiger Cub Den Leader Award were |

| |changed to the Den Leader Training Award with one knot and three devices, Tiger, Cub, and Webelos, so it could |

| |be earned three times. The WDLA and TCDLA were discontinued December 31, 2012. The DLTA medal was reinstated |

| |in blue and gold, see above. The Cub Scouter and the Pack Trainer awards were deleted effective December 31, |

| |2013, in their place Cubbers earn the Scouter’s Training Award. |

|[pic][pic] |Scouter’s Key (Scoutmaster’s Key) |

|SM Key Scouter’s Key | |

|[pic] |The Scoutmaster’s Key came out in 1928, and was used until 1948. It is illustrated at left. The |

|[pic] |distinguishing characteristic is the First Class badge over the Key symbol. (Note: If a man served three years|

|Ribbon and pin |as a Scoutmaster and the remainder of the five years as a Commissioner, he was also allowed to earn the |

|[pic] |Scoutmaster’s Key.) On the reverse, they are marked with “10K,” indicating that they are 10K solid gold. |

|Loop | |

|[pic] |In 1948 the First Class was replaced with a universal Scout emblem (fleur-de-lis, or FDL). Now Cubmasters, |

|Medal front |Advisors, Squadron Leaders, Skippers and Commissioners could earn the Key as well as Scoutmasters. The Key was|

| |also changed at this time to 1/20 10K gold filled, i.e. a layer of 10K gold not less than 1/20th of the total |

|[pic][pic] |weight was laid over base metal. |

|R wing R wing | |

|1/20 10K GF 1/20 10KGF |The 1948-circa 1973 Scouter’s Key was manufactured by Robbins Co. of Attleboro, MA. It is distinguished by a |

|in a box |ribbon mounted through a brass ribbon slot, the ribbon brought down in front, and secured by sewing through |

| |small holes made for the purpose. As you can also see, there is a spin-wheel locking clasp. Patent 2066969 |

| |was granted January 5, 1937, so all bar supports with that number post-date 1937. Versions after that, up to |

| |about 1965, have “PAT 2066969” in the circle. After about 1965, the marking was removed. |

| | |

| |The loop connecting to the medal was openable. It has a small catch, and a spring-loaded prong fits into a |

| |hole in the other side of the loop. You can (with difficulty) remove the device and use it as a separate piece|

| |of jewelry. Some of the later loops are actually marked with “1/20 12K GF” to show they are gold filled. |

| | |

| |The front of the design remained consistent throughout the period. Very early medals use pins to attach the |

| |FDL to the Key. I believe that ended by about 1954. |

| |Robbins medals are distinguished by an R wing hallmark, or an r hallmark, or sometimes by no hallmark at all. |

| |I have identified a pin version of the A (see below, similar to the second Key on the left) awarded in the fall|

| |of 1954. The 1/20 10K GF back (3rd left) was on a Key awarded with the CAW device, issued 1957-58. The R wing|

| |device ended about 1960-62. There are many variations. From left to right, in chronological order, as best I |

| |know it, are the following: |

|[pic] |[pic][pic][pic][pic] |

|Normal vs. Thick SK Body |R wing Small 1/20 10K GF None 1/20 10K GF |

| |1/20 10K GF 3-bar R wing r |

| |[pic][pic][pic] |

| |1/20 10KGF r in a large box r in a small box |

| |1/20 over 10K 1/20 over 10K |

| | |

| |Dic Slunaker of Yuma received this version in 1965. Based on pins and STA ribbon color, the 3-bar version of |

| |the R-wing is believed to come last in order. |

| | |

| |The scan to the left illustrates a new (to me) variety, a “thick body” Key. It has the r in a small box |

| |hallmark, but the body of the key, in all dimensions, is about 50% thicker. This is the only one of these I |

| |have noticed. |

|[pic] |I found an interesting transition piece, containing a Robbins Key medal and loop, and a Stange (see below) |

|Transitional medal, |wheel clasp and sewn ribbon. Two things may have occurred. 1) The Robbins Company, when it lost the |

|Robbins and Stange parts |contract, had some leftover medals, and sold them to Stange, or 2) someone removed and attached it to a Stange |

| |medal. This particular medal was given to Richard Townsend in the early 80s, well after the transition |

| |occurred, as a replacement medal for one he earned. |

|[pic][pic] |In about 1973, the BSA switched to the Stange Company. Several changes were made during their tenure, from |

|Stange Loop |about 1973-79. |

| | |

| |All the ribbons were pressed into the ribbon mount. The attaching ring was now just a solid pressed ring. The|

| |first clasps were spin wheel locking clasps, then changed to a crude clasp. Finally, the ribbons were no |

| |longer tacked (sewn) at the edge to keep them in place. The slippage you see in the third back is now a common|

| |problem. Stange changed the medal front and back initially, but did not change during their time. The front |

| |had significant die changes, with six stripes (vice four), 13 dots instead of 13 stars on the shield, new tail |

| |and wing feathers, and re-shaped stars of Truth and Knowledge. The hallmark is an Old English S with 1/20 G.F.|

| |[pic][pic][pic][pic][pic] |

| |Wheel clasp Crude clasp No sewing Front Back |

|[pic] |Approximately 1980, the BSA again changed suppliers, to Crest Craft. They had a short run of gold-filled |

|CREST CRAFT |medals, ending in the early 1980s. The ribbon and mounting characteristics did not change. The front of the |

| |medal remained very similar, but changes were made to the feet, the feather boundaries, and the head. The |

| |hallmark now read CREST CRAFT. I have found only two varieties, 1/20 10K and 1/10 10K G/F. The F is very |

| |unclear on my sample. This is the only time that the gold content is 1/10, and it may be a typo. However, the|

| |1/10 is also found on CREST CRAFT veteran pins, so it should be accurate. |

| |[pic][pic][pic] |

| |New FDL CREST CRAFT CREST CRAFT |

| |1/20 10K 1/10 10K G/F |

|[pic] |Gold filled medals became too expensive, so sometime in the early 1980s the BSA changed to a gold colored base |

|“Brass” |metal I call brass. The major characteristics of the medal did not change. It still had a pressed, unsewn bar|

| |with a crude clasp. The color of the bar changed to “silver.” There may be a variety with a brass bar like |

| |the CREST CRAFT Key, because one other medal has it. There appear to be minor changes in the medal die, in the|

| |marbling of the FDL, the stars of Truth and Knowledge are smaller, and the shield is not raised as much. The |

| |back of the key has a crosshatch version, and a smooth back version. There are no hallmarks. |

| |[pic][pic][pic] |

| |Brass FDL Crosshatch back Smooth back |

| |Now, let’s put it in sequence, with some dates. A “?” indicates an educated guess that the item should exist, |

| |or that the order is uncertain there. |

| | |

| |The numbering system is: |

| |1. 1928-48 - First Class Scoutmaster’s Key or V Training Award |

| |2. 1948-72 - Robbins manufacture |

| |3. 1973-79 - Stange manufacture |

| |4. 1979-80s - Crest Craft manufacture |

| |5. 1980s-present - anonymous manufacture |

| |All dates are approximate. Letters indicate approximate order. |

|[pic][pic] |Scouter’s Key — FDL on key background, broad (8 mm) white band on green ribbon. The question mark at the |

|Type 1 Type 2 |sequence number indicates we are unsure. Item 2c has been verified as issued in 1952. Item 2d has both a |

| |right side up and an upside down “PAT 2066969.” |

| |Sequence |

| |Hallmarks |

| |Ribbon |

| |Pin |

|[pic][pic] |Loop |

|Type 3 Type 4 | |

| |1a ? 1928- |

| |1st Class pin, 10K mid tail & back of FDL |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Unsupported |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |1b ? |

| |1st Class, pin, 10K lower tail |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Unsupported |

| |Openable10K |

| | |

| |1c ? 1937+ |

| |1st Class, pin, 10K mid tail |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel ster pat2066969 |

| |Openable10K |

| | |

| |1d ? |

| |1st Class, pin, 10K mid tail |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel pat2066969 |

| |Upside down |

| |Openable 1/20 12K GF |

| | |

| |1e? |

| |1st Class, pin, 10K upper tail |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel pat2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |1f? |

| |1st Class, pin, 10K horiz |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel pat2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |1g? |

| |1st Class pin, 10K back of FDL* |

| |Slot, 2 hoses, sewn |

| |Wheel pat2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |* 1g: came in |

| |last style of brown box with |

| |national seal (#2). |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |2a. 1948- |

| |Pin, box R wing 10K 1/20 GF |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel pat2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2b. |

| |Pin, 1/20 10K GF over R wing |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel pat2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2b1. |

| |Pin, 1/2010KGF only |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel pat2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |*2b1: came in |

| |NYC style of brown box with |

| |National seal (#1) |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |2c. 1952-54? |

| |Pin, R wing 1/20 10K GF |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel pat2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2d. 1954?-56+ |

| |Weld, R wing 1/20 10K GF |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel pat2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2d1. |

| |Weld, R wing 1/20 10K GF with 1/20 10K GF on top of key |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel pat |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2e. |

| |Weld, 1/20 10K GF R wing |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel pat2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2e1. |

| |Weld, 1/20 10K GF 3-bar R wing |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel pat2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2f. |

| |Weld hereafter, none |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel pat2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2g? 1960-61 |

| |1/20 10K GF |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel pat2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2h? |

| |1/2010KGF |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel pat2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2h1 |

| |1/20-10KGF |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel pat2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2h2 |

| |r 1/20 10K GF |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel pat2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2i. |

| |1/20 10K GF r |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel pat2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2i1 |

| |1/20 10KGF |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel pat2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2j? |

| |1/20 10KGF over r |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel pat2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2k. |

| |r |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel pat2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2l?Early 60s |

| |1/20-10K GF r |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel pat2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2m. |

| |1/20 – 10KGF |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel pat2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2m1. unknown |

| |/20 10XGF |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |unknown |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2n. 1965 |

| |r 1/20 10K |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel no pat |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2o. |

| |Large r 1/20 over 10K in box |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel no pat |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2p. 1968 |

| |Small r 1/20 over 10K lower |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel no pat |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2q. 1965-73 |

| |Small r 1/20 over 10K in box |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel no pat |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2r. |

| |Small r 1/20 over 10K in box, |

| |body of Key 50% thicker |

| |Slot, 2 holes, sewn |

| |Wheel no pat |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2.5 (mixed!) |

| |Small r 1/20 over 10K in box |

| |Pressed, sewn |

| |Wheel no pat |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |3a. 1973-76 |

| |S 1/20 G.F. smooth back |

| |Pressed, sewn |

| |Wheel no pat |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |3b. 1973-76 |

| |S 1/20 G.F. textured back |

| |Pressed, sewn |

| |Wheel no pat |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |3c. 1977-78 |

| |S 1/20 G.F. textured back |

| |Pressed, sewn |

| |Hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |3d. 1978-79 |

| |S 1/20 G.F. textured back |

| |Pressed, unsewn |

| |Hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |4a. 1980- |

| |Crest Craft 1/20 10K |

| |Pressed, unsewn,brass |

| |Hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |4b. |

| |Crest Craft 1/10 10K G/P |

| |Pressed, unsewn,brass |

| |Hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |5a. |

| |None, textured back |

| |Pressed, unsewn brass |

| |Hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |5b. |

| |None, textured back |

| |Pressed, unsewn wht |

| |Hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |5c. |

| |None, smooth back |

| |Pressed, unsewn wht |

| |Hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |6. 2009-current |

| |None, mottled back |

| |Pressed, unsewn wht |

| |Clutch back |

| |Closed |

| | |

|[pic][pic] |Scouter’s Training Award |

|1932-48 1948-55 | |

|[pic] |The remainder of the awards is very similar in most respects to the Scouter’s Key. Therefore, in dealing with |

|[pic][pic] |them, I will point out differences rather than repeating all the similarities. |

|1955-present V medal | |

|[pic][pic] |The Scouter’s Training Award was initiated in 1932. It has three major varieties. First is the V and solid |

|Sterling 1/20 10K GF |green ribbon. The V was emblematic of the Five-Year Training Program, and it took five years to earn the |

|[pic][pic] |award. There was also a cloth patch, with eight segments around it, relating to the eight requirements for |

|1/20 10K GF Pre-1937 pin |earning the Scouter’s Key or Scouters Training Award. Those were: Elements of Scout Leadership, Troop |

|on FDL bar, no pat # |Camping, Health and Safety-First Aid, Principles of Scout Leadership, Specialization, Advanced Certificate, Two|

|[pic][pic] |Weeks in Camp, and Five Years Service. The patch is illustrated to the left at about half size. |

|Robbins A R wing | |

|[pic]1/20 on left arm |In 1948 the time was reduced to three years, so the FDL was superimposed on an A, but the solid green ribbon |

|[pic][pic] |remained. From 1948 through 1956 it was called the Scouter’s Award, but then changed back to Scouter’s |

|1980s-2008 2008-Present |Training Award. In 1956 a narrow (3 mm) white stripe was added in the center of the ribbon. The Den Mother’s |

| |Training Award was established at the same time. Also, BSA deleted the solid green square knot representing |

| |the Scouter’s Training Award. All Scouter’s would wear the green and white square knot to represent the Key, |

| |Award, or DMTA. I speculate that the color scheme was chosen to be complementary to the knot, since all |

| |contained green and white. |

| | |

| |The Scouter’s Training Award clasp, bar, and loop are like the Key. The V version has at least two ribbon |

| |varieties and four medals. Medals are plain, or have STERLING or 1/20 10K GF on the V or FDL. The STA V has |

|[pic][pic] |five stars on the shield and two full-bodied Truth and Knowledge stars. The bars do say STER for sterling. As|

|Unusual STA Pin |illustrated, some have nipples around the pins, some do not. |

|[pic] | |

|STA Pin Linked to Den Mother Pin |Robbins made the STAs from about 1948-73, and the FDLs are the same throughout the period, identical to the |

|[pic] |Scouter’s Key. The hallmarks show a similar pattern, with the difficulty that the reverse of the A obscures a |

|Reverse of STA and DM Pins |portion of the mark, sometimes introducing some uncertainty. Only one has the A marked with 1/20 10K GF, the |

| |first green/white ribbon example. |

| | |

| |The Stange, Crest Craft, and anonymous STAs follow the pattern of the Scouter’s Key exactly. The existence of |

| |those with a question mark (?) is an educated guess, not a proven fact. The first appearance of the base metal|

| |STA was in 1980, where Mary Gray documented her husband’s STA with the card. |

| | |

| |Sequence |

| |Hallmarks |

| |Ribbon |

| |Pin |

| |Loop |

| | |

| |1. 1932- |

| |V, pin, no marks, no nipples |

| |Rough green ribbon |

| |Plain bar, no pat # |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |1a. 1937- |

| |V, pin, sterling on V, no npl |

| |Olive ? |

| |Wheel ster pat 2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |1b. 1937-48 |

| |V, pin, none, no nipples |

| |Olive ribbon |

| |Wheel ster pat.2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |1ba.1937- |

| |V, pin, ROBBINS, 1/20 10K GF no nipples |

| |Rough green ribbon |

| |Wheel ?? pat2066969 |

| |Openable10 |

| | |

| |1b1. |

| |V, pin, left 1/20 10K GF on V |

| |Rough green ribbon |

| |Wheel pat 2066969 |

| | |

| | |

| |1c. 1937-48 |

| |V, pin, right 1/20 10K GF on V |

| |Smooth green ribbon |

| |Wheel ster pat.2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |1d. -48 |

| |V, pin, 1/20 10KGF |

| |Solid green ribbon |

| |Wheel pat 2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2a. 1948-50 |

| |A, pin, 1/20 10KGF R wing |

| |Solid green ribbon |

| |Wheel pat 2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2b. |

| |A, pin, box R wing 10K 1/20 GF |

| |Solid green ribbon |

| |Wheel pat 2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |2c. |

| |A, pin, R wing 1/2010KGF |

| |Smooth green ribbon |

| |Wheel pat 2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2d. |

| |A, pin, ???0 10K ?? over R wing |

| |N/A |

| |N/A |

| |N/A |

| | |

| |2e. |

| |A, pin, 1/20 10K (GF?) |

| |Rough green ribbon |

| |Wheel pat 2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2f. |

| |A, pin, 1/20 10K GF |

| |Rough green ribbon |

| |Wheel pat 2066969 |

| |Upside down |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2g. 1952-54 |

| |A, pin, R wing 1/20 10K GF |

| |Rough green ribbon |

| |Wheel pat 2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2h. |

| |A, pin, R wing 1/2010KGF |

| |Rough green ribbon |

| |Bar mount spinlock |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2i. |

| |A, pin, no marks |

| |Rough green ribbon |

| |Wheel pat 2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |2j |

| |A, pin, R wing 1/20 10K GF |

| |Solid green ribbon |

| |Wheel, unsupported bar |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2k. –1956 |

| |A, weld, R wing 1/20 10K GF |

| |Rough green ribbon |

| |Wheel pat 2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2l. 1956 |

| |A, weld, R wing 1/20 10K GF |

| |& 1/20 10K GF on R leg of A |

| |Green w/white stripe |

| |Wheel pat 2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2m. |

| |A, weld, R wing 1/20 10K GF |

| |& 1/20 10K GF on L let of A |

| |Green w/white stripe |

| |Wheel pat 2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2n. 1956- |

| |A, weld, R wing 1/20 10K GF |

| |Green w/white stripe |

| |Wheel pat 2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2o. |

| |1/20 10K GF over 3-bar R wing |

| |Green w/white stripe |

| |Wheel pat 2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2p. 1956-61 |

| |1/2010KGF |

| |Green w/white stripe |

| |Wheel pat 2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2q. 1961 |

| |1/20 10K |

| |Green w/white stripe |

| |Wheel pat 2066969 |

| |Clip (repl?) |

| | |

| |2r. early60s |

| |1/20-10KGF |

| |Green w/white stripe |

| |Wheel pat 2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2s.1965 |

| |r 1-20-10-K |

| |Green w/white stripe |

| |Wheel pat 2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2t. |

| |r (only, possibly partial 0) |

| |Green w/white stripe |

| |Wheel pat 2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2u. |

| |1/20 10K GF over r |

| |Green w/white stripe |

| |Wheel pat 2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2v. |

| |Large r 1/20 over 10K |

| |Green w/white stripe |

| |Wheel no patent |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2w. 1968 |

| |Small r 1/20 over 10K lower |

| |Green w/white stripes |

| |Wheel no patent |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2x. 1965-73 |

| |Small r 1/20 over 10K |

| |Green w/white stripe |

| |Wheel no patent |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |3a. 1973-76 |

| |S 1/20 G.F. smooth back |

| |Pressed bar, sewn |

| |Wheel no patent |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |3b. 1977-78 |

| |S 1/20 G.F. textured back |

| |Pressed bar, sewn |

| |Crude hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |3c. 1978- |

| |S 1/20 G.F. textured back |

| |Pressed bar, unsewn |

| |Crude hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |3d. 1978- |

| |S 1/20 G.F. smooth back |

| |Pressed bar, unsewn |

| |Crude hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |4a. 1980- |

| |CREST CRAFT 1/20 10K |

| |Pressed, unsewn, brass |

| |Crude hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |4b. |

| |?CREST CRAFT 1/20 10K G/F |

| |Pressed, unsewn, brass |

| |Crude hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |5a. |

| |None, smooth back |

| |Pressed, unsewn, brass |

| |Crude hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |5b. 1980s- |

| |None, textured back |

| |Pressed, unsewn, white |

| |Crude hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |5c. -2008 |

| |None, smooth back |

| |Pressed, unsewn, white |

| |Crude hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |6. 2008-current |

| |None, mottled back |

| |Pressed, unsewn, white |

| |Clutch back |

| |Closed |

| | |

| | |

| |An unusual STA pin was offered for sale in 2006, illustrated at left. It is 1”x7/8” in size, larger than a |

| |standard pin. It lacks the ring and cross-bar, and does not have normal hallmarks, but a connected HW, and a |

| |vertical pin. The A has a crossbar, and pins, where the pins are normally in small nipples with no crossbar. |

| |I wonder if this was made by soldering a Tenderfoot pin to an A? I would, at first consideration, question if |

| |this was official issue. |

| | |

| |The STA was awarded to Den Mothers from its origin until 1956. A way to recognize Den Mothers is illustrated |

| |at left, with an A pin linked to a Den Mother pin. The Den Mother pin associated with it is a version that was|

| |phased out beginning in 1948, but the A was not issued until 1948 at the earliest. Note the FDL is held on |

| |with pins, and though not visible, the box it came in had the “Headquarters New York City” seal on it. The |

| |move out of NYC was made in 1954. Note the pin and back is different than the other shown at left. This item |

| |was offered for sale in 2007. |

|[pic] |Den Mother’s Training Award / Den Leader’s Training Award |

|DMTA/DLTA | |

|[pic][pic] |The Den Mother’s Training Award was introduced in 1956. Prior to then, Den Mothers earned the Scouter’s |

|Robbins Hallmark on ◇ |Training Award. A friend of mine earned hers under the old Five Year Training Program with the V. The DMTA |

|[pic] |became the DLTA in 1967 with the introduction of the new Webelos program and allowing men and women to serve in|

|Stange |the Den Leader and committee member positions. The DLTA was phased out on December 31, 1988 with the |

|[pic][pic] |introduction of the Den Leader Award that year. Again, the white and green color scheme was because in 1956 |

|Lapel Pins, Type 2 and 5 |there was only one training knot, green and white, which we know today as the Scouter’s Key knot. See below |

| |for the reinstated DLTA. |

| | |

| |The DMTA/DLTA was exactly the same as the Key/STA in manufacture, except for reversing the colors of the ribbon|

| |and the back of the medal itself. The DMTA/DLTA/DLCTA all use a diamond (◇) background (Cub outline) with FDL |

| |on top. The Robbins DMTAs were manufactured with an arc of metal and an oval boss connecting the sides of the |

| |diamond behind the FDL. This obscured any hallmark on the FDL itself, so the hallmark was placed on the arc |

| |and boss. I am aware of one where the hallmark is on the lower right leg of the diamond. This comes in a red |

|[pic] |box, probably the first edition of the medal. Stange, Crest Craft and the successor supplier used small |

|1/20-10K r over |nipples on the back of the diamond to attach to the FDL, so the FDL hallmark is fully visible. |

|r 1/20 over 10K | |

| |Two lapel pins have shown up on eBay, one vertical and one horizontal. The first shown is from a later Robbins|

|[pic] |batch (Type 2, 1969-72), the second shown is Type 5a/b. They became available by April 1961 (#5100D) and were |

|DLTA 2012-Present |available past March 1976, but remarkably few show up on eBay. |

| | |

| |In the list below, the varieties with a question mark (?) may not exist. I expect them to be available, but I |

| |have not seen them. Item 2b below has both right side up and upside down “PAT 2066969.” Items 2h and 2h1 |

| |below show where the fleur-de-lis used for the SK/STA is also used for these Cub awards, even though the |

| |markings are not normally visible. In both, either the large or the small box containing “r 1/20 over 10K” is |

| |visible under the arc and oval boss. The second is illustrated on the left below. |

| | |

| |Sequence |

| |Hallmarks |

| |Ribbon |

| |Pin |

| |Loop |

| | |

| |2a. 1956- |

| |1/20 10K GF on LR leg of dia |

| |White w/narrow green |

| |Wheel pat 2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2a. 1956- |

| |?1/20 10K GF R wing |

| |White w/narrow green |

| |Wheel pat. 2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2b. -1960- |

| |1/20 10K GF |

| |White w/narrow green |

| |Wheel pat. 2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2c. |

| |1/20 10KGF |

| |White w/narrow green |

| |Wheel pat. 2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2d.? |

| |? 10K GF (misstrike?) |

| |White w/narrow green |

| |Wheel pat. 2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2e |

| |1/20-10K GF |

| |White w/narrow green |

| |Wheel pat. 2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2e1? |

| |1/2010K GF on diamond |

| |White w/narrow green |

| |Wheel pat 2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2f. @1965- |

| |1/20 10KGF over r |

| |White w/narrow green |

| |Wheel no patent |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2g. |

| |r over 1-20-10K |

| |White w/narrow green |

| |Wheel no patent |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2h. |

| |r over 1-20-10-K over lg r box |

| |White w/narrow green |

| |Wheel no patent |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2h1. |

| |1/20-10K r over r 1/20 over 10K |

| |White w/narrow green |

| |Wheel no patent |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2i. 1969-72 |

| |1/20-10K r |

| |White w/narrow green |

| |Wheel no patent |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2j. |

| |1/20-10K r |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |3a. 1973-76 |

| |S 1/20 G.F. smooth back |

| |Pressed bar, sewn,long |

| |Wheel no patent circle |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |3a11973-76 |

| |S 1/20 G.F. smooth back |

| |Pressed bar, sewn.short |

| |Wheel bar no circle |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |3b. 1977-78 |

| |S 1/20 G.F. smooth back |

| |Pressed bar, sewn |

| |Crude hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |3c. |

| |S 1/20 G.F. textured back |

| |Pressed bar, sewn |

| |Crude hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |3d. 1978+ |

| |S 1/20 G.F. textured back |

| |Pressed bar, unsewn |

| |Crude hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |4a. 1980- |

| |?CREST CRAFT 1/20 10K |

| |Pressed, unsewn, brass |

| |Crude hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |4b. |

| |?CREST CRAFT 1/20 10K G/F |

| |Pressed, unsewn, brass |

| |Crude hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |5a. |

| |?None, back hatch pattern |

| |Pressed, unsewn, brass |

| |Crude hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |5b. |

| |None, back hatch pattern |

| |Pressed, unsewn, white |

| |Crude hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |5c. -1988 |

| |None, smooth back |

| |Pressed, unsewn, white |

| |Crude hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |6a. 2012- |

| |None, smooth FDL, hatch ◊ |

| |Pressed, unsewn, white |

| |Clutch back |

| |Closed |

| | |

| | |

| |The new Den Leader Training Award uses the traditional Cub Scout colors of blue and gold, which makes sense |

| |because the DLTA knot is a gold knot on blue. Apparently, this took some pushing from the Cub Scout side when |

| |it was reinstated. |

|[pic] |Den Leader Coach’s Training Award |

|DLCTA | |

| |The Den Leader Coach’s Training Award was instituted in September 1967 at the same time the position was |

| |created. No one could earn it until 1969, when two years had expired. Very few DLCTAs were earned, the least |

| |number of the four. There was a maximum of one Den Leader Coach per pack (normally) and most packs did not use|

| |the position. It too was phased out on December 31st, 1988. Because many fewer were issued, it is likely that|

| |some of the varieties were not issued, because a production run lasted longer. The only difference was the two|

| |green stripes. Below are the known varieties, more are possible. |

| | |

| |Sequence |

| |Hallmarks |

| |Ribbon |

| |Pin |

| |Loop |

| | |

| |2aa. 1969? |

| |1/20-10K r on diamond, r 1/20 over 10K in box on FDL |

| |White w/2 narrow green |

| |Wheel no patent? |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2a. 1969? |

| |r 1/20-10K |

| |White w/2 narrow green |

| |Wheel no patent |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2b. 1969-72 |

| |1/20-10K r |

| |White w/2 narrow green |

| |Wheel no patent |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |3a. 1973-76 |

| |S 1/20 G.F. smooth back |

| |Pressed bar, sewn |

| |Wheel no patent |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |3b. 1973-76 |

| |S 1/20 G.F. textured back |

| |Pressed bar, sewn |

| |Wheel no patent |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |3c. 1977-78+ |

| |S 1/20 G.F. smooth back |

| |Pressed bar, unsewn |

| |Crude hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |3d. 1978+-80 |

| |S 1/20 G.F. textured back |

| |Pressed bar, unsewn |

| |Crude hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |4. 1980- |

| |CREST CRAFT 1/20 10K |

| |Pressed, unsewn, brass |

| |Crude hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |5a. 1980s |

| |None, textured back |

| |Pressed, unsewn, brass |

| |Crude hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |5b. 1980s |

| |None, smooth back |

| |Pressed, unsewn, brass |

| |Crude hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |6. -1988 |

| |None, textured back |

| |Pressed, unsewn, white |

| |Crude hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

|[pic][pic] |Skipper’s Key |

|1939-? 1st 1940-? 2nd | |

|[pic][pic][pic] |The Skipper’s Key was started in December 1939, and phased out in 1948 as the Scoutmaster’s Key was phased out.|

|1939- Medal Reverse -1948 |It was replaced by the Scouter’s Key. The images on the top left are the first and second edition with a blue |

|[pic][pic] |and white ribbon. Note that the threads tying it to the mounting bar are visible. The first edition had the |

|2002-08 2008- |loop of the key opening sideways and attaching directly to the loop through the ribbon. To my knowledge, this |

| |is the only instance in any training award series. The third edition with a solid blue ribbon is on the right.|

| |The first edition does not have PAT 2066969 on the bar, perhaps indicating that that bar was not adopted until |

| |after about 1940. This is mounted like the regular Scoutmaster’s Key also. The medal reverse of all three is |

| |illustrated, with the first having a medal with STERLING on bottom of the tail, the second on the center of the|

| |lower bar. The solid blue ribbon has the STERLING on the right of the lower bar. This award required five |

| |years service as a Skipper. |

| |?-1948 3rd |

| |The term Scouter’s Key was used beginning in 1948. Initially, there were not separate requirements for |

| |Skippers, the requirements were for Explorer Advisors, which a Skipper was, as well as Air Scout Squadron |

| |Leaders and regular Explorer Advisors. In 1959 a separate Sea Explorer device (see below) was instituted. |

| | |

| |In 2002 the Skipper’s Key was reinstated as a separate award, with a separate medal. However, the square knot |

| |and Sea Scout device remain as they have been since 1959. The new Skipper’s Key construction resembles the |

| |current Scouter’s Key, with of course, the exception that the ribbon is blue and the emblem on the Key is the |

| |Sea Scout logo in silver. In 2008, in my role as Vice-Commodore Commissioner for our local Sea Scout squadron,|

| |I ordered four Skipper’s Keys for individuals who completed the requirements. Two were the variety on the |

| |left, in a plastic box with the label “MEDALLION SKIPPERS KEY MEDAL” as my previous orders (since 2003) had |

| |been. This box has a medium blue foam fill. Two of the medals were in a box with the label “SKIPPER KEY |

| |MEDAL.” It too has medium blue foam fill, but one side has a dark blue plush, and the medals rest on that. |

| |Ribbon color is the same between them. However, the second Key itself is slightly changed, with the Sea Scout |

| |logo shifted downward about 1-1.5 mm, setting the anchor stock on the upper Key crosspiece, and the anchor arm |

| |visibly below the lower crosspiece. This difference is minor, not a full-fledged variety. |

| |Sequence |

| |Hallmarks |

| |Ribbon |

| |Pin |

| |Loop |

| | |

| |0. 1939 - ? |

| |STERLING lower tail |

| |Blue/White |

| |Plain bar, no pat # |

| |None |

| | |

| |1. 1940? - ? |

| |STERLING center bottom |

| |Blue/White |

| |Wheel PAT2066969 |

| |Openable |

| | |

| |2. ? -1948 |

| |STERLING right bottom |

| |Solid blue |

| |Wheel PAT2066969 |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |3a. 2002-08 |

| |None |

| |Pressed bar, unsewn |

| |Crude hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| |3b. 2008- ? |

| |None |

| |Pressed bar, unsewn |

| |Crude hook |

| |Closed |

| | |

| [pic] [pic] |Other Varieties of Training Awards. |

|Explorer Explorer | |

|Key Key |I have 120 (42+39+24+10+5) varieties of the training award medals. I expect that there are 10 or 15 more that |

|Circle V FDL |I do not have or know about. |

| | |

|[pic] [pic] |There are also three varieties of the Explorer Advisor Key and three of the Explorer Training Award. Exploring|

|Explorer Explorer |allowed “distinctive dress identity” and non-uniformed posts, and the pin type of Key and Training Award were |

|Training Training |the nominal primary award. You could also wear the medal and device, if you chose. |

|Award Award | |

|FDL E-Bar |I have copies of three varieties, as the “Big E” changed. First, about 1972, was the E with the Circle V on |

|[pic] |the bottom. Circa 1982 was the same E, but with a Boy Scout fleur-de-lis in place of the Circle V. Finally, |

|Privately Manufactured? |circa 1990 was a slightly different E with a bar out of the bottom. These dates are based on Michael R. |

| |Brown’s web site at , an excellent site for Senior Scouting information. |

|[pic] | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |Nr |

| |Description |

| |Difference |

| | |

| |EK1 |

| |Key design with E |

| |Circle V, upright E |

| | |

| |EK2 |

| |Key design w/FDL |

| |Fleur-de-lis, upright E |

| | |

| |EK3 |

| |Key design with E |

| |Bottom bar, slanted E |

| | |

| |ET1 |

| |A behind E |

| |Circle V, upright E |

| | |

| |ET2 |

| |A behind E |

| |Fleur-de-lis, upright E |

| | |

| |ET3 |

| |A behind E |

| |Bottom bar, slanted E |

| | |

| | |

| |At the left is, to my knowledge, a unique Scouter’s Key for Exploring, created during the latter Stange era. |

| |The medal “dangle” portion is identical to the Explorer Key illustrated above, and has a spot on the back where|

| |it appears as if the pin was ground off. The ribbon and bar are identical to that of the third variety of the |

| |Stange medals. It is my belief that this medal was privately assembled from available parts. It came from the|

| |Lubbock, Texas area. |

| | |

| |A new find in 2008 is a lapel or jewelry pin for the Den Leader Training Award (or the DLCTA), in the 1980s |

| |era, that has a locking vertical pin on the back. The diamond back is hatched, but not hallmarked. It is not |

| |intended to be attached to a ribbon at all. |

|[pic] |Tie Clasps. As mentioned above, the early versions of the medal could be separated from the ribbon (or bought |

|Scoutmaster’s Key tie bar |separately). Thus you could make them jewelry on a key chain, or turn them into a lapel pin. The first two |

|[pic] |tie clasps shown were sold on eBay in 2005. The first is a Scoutmaster’s Key, i.e. prior to 1948. A Scouter’s |

|Possibly unofficial |Training Award (A style) with the same tie bar was offered in 2008. The STA is post-1948. The second is a |

| |Scouter’s Key, Type 2c in my list above. Therefore, it is probably not much later than 1954. The 1951, 1954, |

|[pic] |and 1956 Uniforms and Equipment pamphlets do not show it. It would be easy to make from the other similar tie |

|Scouter’s Key #5566 |clasps of the day. I don’t know if it is official or not. However, Veteran insignia were mounted on this kind|

|[pic] |of tie bar. |

|Training Award #5762 | |

| | |

| |BSA also brought out two official tie clasps, one for the Key and one for the STA. I find the Scouter’s Key |

| |tie bar (No. 5566) first available in January 1962. The Scouter’s Training Award tie bar (No. 5762) became |

| |available by January 1969. The Key was removed from the 3/74 catalog, but the STA tie bar was still in the |

| |3/76 catalog. I assume it disappeared shortly. The two versions I have are of somewhat different |

| |construction, and the devices of different size and placement, so there may be more than one variety. |

|[pic] |Devices. Now, you ask, “What are all those little doohickeys on the Key on the left?” Or, at least, I hope |

|Scouter’s Key |you are interested. We call them devices. The Scouter’s Key may be earned as a Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, |

|(with five devices) |Varsity Coach, Venturing Advisor, Sea Scout Skipper, Commissioner and member of the district committee. In the|

| |past, it could be earned as an Explorer Advisor, and Air Explorer Squadron Leader. The Scouter’s Training |

| |Award may be earned in Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, Venturing, and Sea Scouting. In the past,|

| |it could be earned in Exploring, and as roundtable staff commissioner. You may identify the program you earned|

| |your award in by attaching the appropriate device to your ribbon (as illustrated) and to the corresponding |

| |knot. You may wear obsolete devices. |

|Cub Scout [pic] |Significant changes were made from 1955-57. The ribbon on the Scouter’s Training Award was changed from solid |

|Boy Scout [pic] |green to green with a small white stripe. The Den Mother’s Training Award was instituted. Then the solid |

|Explorer CAW [pic] |green square knot was phased out, and the green and white square knot served as the knot for the Key, STA and |

|Commissioner [pic] |DMTA. Devices were initiated about 1957. They were worn only on the Scouter’s Key ribbon and knot. The |

|Explorer [pic] |devices on the knot distinguished between the Key and the STA/DMTA. If you had a device on a knot, it |

|Circle V |represented a Key. |

|Sea Explorer/ [pic] | |

|Sea Scout |The devices are illustrated at left, in the order in which they occurred. The first four devices were the Cub,|

|Air [pic] |Scout, Explorer (CAW), and commissioner. In 1958, the Explorer device was changed from CAW |

|Explorer |(Compass/Anchor/Wings) to the new Explorer universal logo, Circle V. |

| | |

| |By January 1959, Sea Explorer (Sea Scout) anchor and Air Explorer wings had been added. In 1966 the Air |

| |Explorer wings were eliminated with the demise of Air Exploring. |

|Explorer Big E [pic] |By 1971 the Exploring device had changed again, from Circle V to Big E. In 1975, the devices were authorized |

|Varsity [pic] |with the Scouter’s Training Award, because the STA requirements were broken out by program. There were |

|District [pic] |separate requirement in Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting and Exploring. By 1986, Varsity had the VS in a circle. By|

|Committee |1993 the district committee had a device of the FDL in a circle. In about 1995 the commissioner device changed|

|Commissioner [pic] |from the First Class badge within the wreath to a FDL in the wreath. In 1998 the Venturing device replaced the|

|Venturing [pic] |Exploring device. In 2012 the Tiger Cub device was added to be worn on the Den Leader Training Award and the |

|Tiger Cub [pic][pic] |knot. The Cub Scout device above was also authorized for the DLTA and knot. The Webelos device, long |

|Webelos [pic][pic][pic][pic] |authorized to wear on the religious knot for youth, was authorized to wear on the DLTA and knot. |

| | |

|[pic][pic][pic] |Devices have undergone a gradual decline in detail and “quality.” For instance, I have three Scout devices, |

|Scout devices |bought in 1975, then perhaps five years later, and again about 1990. In the first, the device is fully modeled |

| |and completely cut out, with no fill between the upper and lower branches of the FDL. The second starts to fill|

| |that in, and the third makes the device look like a pentagon. My original national sample long post |

| |commissioner device has much more detail than the more recent ones, which are also flat. |

| | |

| |These devices are also used on youth religious knots and the Venturing Advisor’s Award of Merit. Other devices|

| |are used on other awards. |

| |In conjunction with Gary Whitman, Shay Lelegren, Bruce Noonan and Arnold Traupman, I have co-authored a |

| |monograph on square knot varieties titled Varieties of Official BSA Square Knots. Section 5 of that monograph |

| |is devoted to all the varieties of devices. It is available by contacting me at one of the addresses below. |

| |Thanks to Rick Vanglish who identified an error I made in the scan of the Cubmaster Award, which has been |

| |corrected. |

| | |

| |George Crowl, 16213 Congo Ln, Jersey Village, TX 77040, george.h.crowl@ |

| |Version V12.0 1/1/16 |

| |References: |

| |The UNIFORM, BADGES and INSIGNIA, No. 3189, 1929 |

| |Uniform Badges and Insignia 1933 |

| |The Scout Executive - |

| |Vol. XI, No. 9, October, 1930 |

| |Vol. XIII, No. 9, October, 1932 |

| |Vol. XV, No. 10, November 1934 |

| |The Scout Administrator - |

| |Vol. I, No. 9, October 1935 |

| |Vol. III, 1937, |

| |The Local Council Exchange - |

| |Vol. 1, No. 3, November 1938 |

| |Vol. 2, No. 5, November 1939 |

| |Vol. 4, No. 2, May 1941 |

| |The Scout Executive - |

| |Vol. 12, No. 7, October 1947 |

| |Official Uniforms and Equipment of the Boy Scouts of America |

| |January 1, 1956 |

| |March 1, 1974 |

| |8/75 |

| |Official Uniforms and Insignia, BSA |

| |Boy Scouting May 1st, 1953 |

| |Cub Scouting, September 1st, 1955 |

| |Boy Scouting, October 15th, 1956 |

| |Boy Scouting November 15th, 1957 |

| |Boy Scouting January 15th, 1959 |

| |Boy Scouting April 15, 1960 |

| |8/66 |

| |9/67 |

| |Insignia Guide |

| |1973 |

| |1978 |

| |1991 |

| |1993 |

| |2000 |

| |2002 |

| |Scouting magazine |

| |March 1948 |

| |October 1956 |

| |February 1969 |

| |March-April 1978 |

| |September 1988 |

| |November-December 2000 |

| |a guide to dating and identifying BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA BADGES, UNIFORMS & INSIGNIA, Mitch Reis, 3rd ed., 2000 |

| |eBay #3956877568, CREST CRAFT STA dated April 12, 1980. |

| | 1/1/07 |

| |Training Award Presentation Boxes |

|Note: The boxes the awards come in have also |[pic][pic][pic] |

|changed over time. The first box (Box #1) I |Box #1 - Blue Weave Box #2 – Mottled Inside |

|have seen is a blue weave box, with a blue | |

|inside plush background. The second, (Box #2) | |

|is a mottled brown box. It is hinged to open | |

|from bottom to top, and has a ribbon keeper at | |

|the top. | |

|Box #3 came with the Boy Scout seal on the top, |[pic][pic] |

|“Headquarters New York City” version. It has a |Box #3a – Scout Seal NYC Wood Grain Box 3b – National Council |

|plush red lining inside, but no keeper. I have | |

|seen this box for Scoutmaster Keys, Training | |

|Awards with V, and for a very early version of | |

|the Den Mother’s Training Award. That means | |

|that the use of the box predated 1948, and | |

|postdated 1956. The box comes in at least three| |

|sub-varieties, not intuitively obvious unless | |

|they are compared directly. The seal (3b) was | |

|changed to “National | |

|Council” about the time of the move to New |[pic][pic][pic] |

|Brunswick, NJ in 1954. The wood grain is |Box 3c – Oak pattern Box #4 – Plastic/Cardboard |

|different on every box I own, perhaps because it| |

|came from a different part of a larger sheet. |Lakehurstkid (clemencia2@) told me that the STA 2k version was presented in 1956 in Box #4, according |

|Box #4 is a plastic box, black on the bottom, |to his source for a specific medal he was selling. I had an earlier reference for the 1961 date. |

|with a folding transparent lid. There is a | |

|fabric-lined cardboard insert with two holes and| |

|a connecting line stamped out, into which the | |

|medal was inserted. The lid isn’t much thicker | |

|than the plastic (3mm), the box is deep (15mm). | |

|I have a source (lakehurstkid) who has a 1956 | |

|STA that came in one of these boxes. My | |

|personal STA came in this version in 1965. I | |

|believe it was in use from the middle/ late | |

|50s-±1980. | |

|Box #5, beginning in the early 80s, was changed |[pic][pic] |

|so the bottom and the top were each about 8-9 mm|Box #5a – Plastic/Foam Box #5b – Cream foam |

|in thickness. The medal rested on a bed of foam| |

|that projected about 5mm above bottom of the | |

|box, holding the medal against the clear | |

|plastic. The plastic foam came in several | |

|colors and shades of colors. The foam itself | |

|varied in composition or coarseness. | |

| |[pic][pic] |

| |Box #5b – Green Foam Box 5c – “Blue/Black” Foam |

|Box #6, prior to the ending of the DLCTA in |[pic][pic][pic] |

|1988, came with a white fuzzy cardboard insert, |Box #6 – Pre-1988 fuzzy cardboard Box #7a/7b – Blue Foam |

|and elastic bands, through which the pin of the | |

|medal was inserted. This was the same box, just| |

|a different insert, with the bottom and top of | |

|the box 9mm deep. | |

| | |

|Box #7 is only distinguished by the post-1993 | |

|change in catalog numbers for the medals. | |

|Again, the foam, while blue, varies in color and| |

|in density. | |

|Box #7c is from the late 2000s. It has a dark |[pic] |

|blue plush topping on blue foam, looking very |Box 7c - Blue Foam w/Blue Plush |

|nice. This is the same insert as the 2008 | |

|Skipper’s Key. Later inserts reverted to the | |

|blue foam of 7a/7b. | |

|Box #8 on the right is not strictly comparable |[pic] |

|with the boxes above, since it is for the Cub |Cub Scout Neck Award Box #8 |

|Scout awards issued from 1988-2000. It is | |

|significantly larger, 25/8”x4”, and opens at the| |

|bottom. The ribbon is behind the white | |

|cardboard insert, with the medal resting on the | |

|cardboard. | |

|Skipper’s Key boxes, and the labels on the |[pic] |

|reverse. Note that the Skipper’s Key does not |2002-08 2008- |

|appear to have a BSA catalog number, since it is| |

|handled only by the person in charge of Sea | |

|Scouting at the National office. | |

| | |

|[pic] | |

|2002-08 2008- | |

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